Richardson vs Flexfit: The Complete Wholesale Cap Guide for Canadian Decorators
Walk into any decorated apparel shop in Canada and ask which wholesale cap brands the decorators rely on most, and you will almost always hear the same two names. Richardson and Flexfit. These are the brands that answer the vast majority of cap program briefs that Canadian decorators encounter — from corporate promotional programs and sports team orders to fashion merch drops and retail-quality lifestyle collections.
They are not interchangeable. They do not serve the same applications equally well. And knowing when to reach for Richardson versus when to reach for Flexfit — and which specific style within each brand answers a given brief most accurately — is one of the most practically valuable pieces of product knowledge a Canadian decorator can develop.
This guide covers both brands comprehensively — the key styles available through Fabrik, the construction and decoration characteristics of each, and a clear framework for matching the right cap to the right client and the right application every time.
Understanding the two brands: different philosophies, different strengths
Before comparing styles directly, it helps to understand what each brand is fundamentally built around — because the philosophical difference between Richardson and Flexfit explains why they excel in different situations.
Richardson is built around the structured trucker cap aesthetic. The brand's identity is rooted in American heritage headwear — the five-panel mesh back trucker with a structured cotton twill front panel that has become one of the most culturally relevant cap silhouettes of the past decade. Richardson's core strength is delivering that specific aesthetic in an extraordinary range of colour combinations with consistent quality, reliable stock, and decoration characteristics that experienced decorators know and trust deeply. When a client wants a classic structured cap that photographs well, embroiders cleanly, and is available in their exact brand colours, Richardson is almost always the right conversation.
Flexfit is built around a fundamentally different premise — the stretch fitted cap. The Flexfit brand's foundational innovation is their patented elastic band and stretch fabric construction that produces a fitted cap silhouette without requiring individual sizing. The Flexfit system eliminated the choice between the imprecise fit of adjustable closures and the logistical complexity of individually sized fitted caps, creating a category that has become the default for athletic, performance, and premium fashion cap applications where a clean, close-fitting silhouette is the priority. When a client wants a cap that looks fitted and premium without the sizing headache of traditional fitted styles, Flexfit answers the brief.
The practical implication is that Richardson and Flexfit rarely compete for exactly the same application. Richardson owns the structured trucker and adjustable cap segment. Flexfit owns the stretch fitted and performance cap segment. A decorator who knows both brands well can answer virtually any cap brief that walks through their door.
Richardson styles available at Fabrik
Richardson 112 — the benchmark trucker cap
The Richardson 112 is one of the most decorated caps in North America and the undisputed starting point for any conversation about Richardson wholesale. Its combination of structured construction, unmatched colour range, and broad aesthetic versatility has made it the default cap recommendation for decorators across virtually every client segment.
Construction: Five-panel structured front in cotton twill with buckram backing, five-panel mesh back, snapback closure, pre-curved brim with moderate arc. The structured buckram-backed front panel is the critical construction detail — it provides a firm, stable, flat surface for embroidery that holds its shape under the hoop and produces consistently clean results across production runs of any size.
Colour range: The 112 is available in one of the broadest colour combination ranges of any wholesale cap in the market — dozens of solid and two-tone options spanning corporate neutrals, fashion earth tones, team sport colour combinations, pastels, and seasonal specialty colourways. For most Canadian decorators, the 112's colour range alone makes it the answer to the vast majority of cap colour requests without requiring substitution or compromise.
Best for: Corporate promotional programs, sports teams and leagues, merch brand drops, event merchandise, staff headwear, fashion lifestyle brands. The 112's versatility across applications is unmatched — it is equally at home on a corporate desk, at a sports tournament, and on a market table at a fashion pop-up.
Decoration notes: The structured buckram front panel is one of the best embroidery surfaces in the wholesale cap category. Plastisol screen printing on the structured front also works well for bold graphic applications. Standard left-center-right front panel placements all produce consistent results. Stitch counts of 5,000–15,000 are appropriate for most logo applications — above 20,000 stitches, puckering risk increases and design simplification is recommended.
Browse the Richardson 112 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Richardson 110 — the flat brim alternative
The Richardson 110 shares the core structured cotton twill construction of the 112 but with a flat brim rather than a pre-curved one — the silhouette that defines the streetwear and skateboarding cap aesthetic that has maintained strong cultural relevance in the Canadian youth and fashion market.
Construction: Five-panel structured front in cotton twill with buckram backing, solid woven back panels rather than mesh, snapback closure, flat unbent brim. The solid back construction rather than mesh gives the 110 a cleaner, more premium appearance than the traditional trucker silhouette of the 112 — it reads as a fashion cap rather than a utility or sport cap.
Colour range: Strong solid colour offering in the core tones that work for streetwear and fashion applications — blacks, whites, navys, and a curated selection of fashion-appropriate accent colours. Narrower than the 112's colour combination range but well-chosen for the aesthetic the 110 is designed to serve.
Best for: Streetwear brands, skate and action sports labels, youth merch brands, music artist merchandise, any brand or client whose aesthetic reference points are urban fashion rather than sport or corporate. The flat brim is a deliberate style statement and will not work for all clients — but for clients who specifically want it, the 110 is the right answer.
Decoration notes: The structured front panel embroiders identically to the 112 — same buckram backing, same stable surface, same predictable protocol. Screen printing on the flat brim front is particularly popular for streetwear applications where a printed graphic on the front panel is part of the aesthetic rather than an alternative to embroidery. The solid back panels also offer a cleaner canvas for back panel embroidery or printing than the mesh back of the 112.
Browse the Richardson 110 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Richardson 312 — the premium dual fabric trucker
The Richardson 312 combines structured front panels with a premium woven solid back — a hybrid construction that delivers the embroidery-friendly front surface of the classic trucker with the cleaner, more polished appearance of a solid back panel cap.
Construction: Five-panel structured front in cotton twill with buckram backing, solid woven back panels, snapback closure, pre-curved brim. The solid back construction rather than mesh gives the 312 a more premium, finished appearance than the 112 — it works in contexts where the trucker aesthetic is desired but the mesh back reads as too casual or athletic for the application.
Best for: Premium corporate programs where a trucker silhouette is appropriate but a solid back reads more professionally than mesh. Upscale event merchandise. Fashion brands that want Richardson's structured front embroidery quality with a cleaner overall aesthetic. Golf and outdoor lifestyle programs where the solid back construction is more appropriate than athletic mesh.
Decoration notes: Identical to the 112 and 110 in terms of front panel embroidery characteristics. The solid back panels open up back panel embroidery and printing options that mesh back styles do not accommodate as cleanly.
Browse the Richardson 312 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Richardson 115 — the low profile trucker
The Richardson 115 is the lower-crown sibling of the 112 — same five-panel mesh back trucker construction and snapback closure, but with a significantly reduced crown height and a softer front panel structure that produces a distinctly different silhouette.
Construction: Five-panel structured front in cotton twill, mesh back, snapback closure, pre-curved brim, low-profile crown. The reduced crown height changes the overall silhouette dramatically compared to the 112 — it sits closer to the head and projects a more casual, worn-in aesthetic that resonates with outdoor lifestyle, heritage workwear, and craft beverage brand aesthetics.
Best for: Outdoor and lifestyle brands. Craft breweries, distilleries, and food and beverage businesses where a relaxed, approachable aesthetic is the brand positioning. Heritage and vintage-inspired merch programs. Any client whose brand reads as authentic and unpretentious rather than performance or corporate-oriented. The 115 is frequently the right answer when a client says they want something that does not look too structured or corporate but still needs a clean embroidery surface.
Decoration notes: The lower crown height requires artwork reformatting for designs that were originally created for the taller 112 crown — vertically large logos may need to be resized or restructured to fit the reduced front panel height cleanly. The slightly softer front panel structure is adequate for most standard logo embroidery but is less forgiving for very dense or complex artwork than the fully structured 112 panel.
Browse the Richardson 115 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Richardson 168 — the performance sport cap
The Richardson 168 moves into performance fabric territory — a cap built for athletic use where moisture management, breathability, and comfort during physical activity are genuine requirements that a standard cotton twill construction does not fully address.
Construction: Performance polyester fabric construction, structured front panel, adjustable closure, moisture-wicking properties. The performance fabric delivers the breathability and sweat management that athletes need during active use while maintaining a structured front panel that is compatible with embroidery decoration.
Best for: Athletic programs and sports teams. Golf tournaments and corporate golf events. Outdoor recreation brands. Corporate programs in physically active industries. Running clubs, fitness studios, and wellness-oriented brands. Any application where the cap will be worn during physical activity and the wearer's comfort during use is a genuine consideration alongside decoration quality.
Decoration notes: Performance polyester fabrics require specific embroidery protocol adjustments compared to cotton twill — appropriate backing weight, correct needle selection for synthetic fabrics, and adjusted tension settings. Decorators who work regularly with performance fabric apparel will be familiar with these adjustments. For decorators working with performance caps for the first time, a test run on a sample piece before committing to production quantity is recommended.
Browse the Richardson 168 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit styles available at Fabrik
Flexfit 110 — the iconic flat brim snapback
The Flexfit 110 is one of the most recognized wholesale cap styles in the North American market — a flat brim, unstructured six-panel cap with an adjustable snapback closure that has become the default cap for streetwear brands, athletic programs, and any buyer who wants a clean, modern silhouette without the formality of a structured front panel.
Construction: Six-panel unstructured construction, flat brim, snapback closure, one size fits most. The unstructured construction — no buckram backing in the front panel — is the defining characteristic of the 110. The front panel is soft and pliable rather than stiff and firm, which produces a different silhouette, a different wearing experience, and importantly, different decoration characteristics than structured cap styles.
Colour range: The Flexfit 110 is available in a strong range of solid colours and two-tone options that cover both athletic and fashion applications well. The colour offering is not as deep as Richardson's 112 colour combination range but is well-curated for the aesthetic the 110 serves.
Best for: Streetwear and fashion brands where the unstructured aesthetic is deliberate. Athletic programs where a casual, off-duty cap is needed alongside performance styles. Youth-oriented brands and programs. Music artist merchandise. Any application where the client specifically wants the flat-brim unstructured silhouette that has been dominant in streetwear and hip-hop influenced fashion for the past decade.
Decoration notes: Embroidery on unstructured caps requires more careful backing selection and tension management than structured caps because the soft front panel does not provide the same inherent stability. A firm cutaway or tearaway backing is essential to prevent puckering on the soft panel. Lower-density embroidery designs and simplified artwork produce more consistent results on unstructured caps than complex, high-stitch-count logos. Screen printing on the flat brim front is a popular alternative to embroidery for streetwear applications — the flat surface accommodates screen print registration well and allows graphic artwork that embroidery cannot easily reproduce.
Browse the Flexfit 110 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 110M — the wool blend premium flat brim
The Flexfit 110M is the premium wool blend version of the 110 — same unstructured six-panel construction and flat brim snapback silhouette, but with a wool-polyester blend fabric that elevates the hand feel, texture, and perceived quality of the finished cap significantly above the standard polyester 110.
Construction: Six-panel unstructured construction, wool-polyester blend fabric, flat brim, snapback closure, one size fits most. The wool content gives the fabric a softer, more textured surface with a warmth and richness that polyester alone cannot replicate — the kind of material quality that end customers notice and appreciate immediately when they pick up the cap.
Best for: Premium fashion brands where the blank's material quality is part of the product story. Higher-end merch programs where the cap will be priced at a premium retail tier and needs to feel genuinely premium in the hand. Fall and winter seasonal collections where the warmth and texture of wool blend fabric is appropriate for the season. Lifestyle and heritage brands where material authenticity is part of the brand positioning.
Decoration notes: Wool blend fabrics require careful embroidery protocol management — the texture of the wool surface affects needle penetration and stitch definition differently than smooth polyester or cotton twill. Experienced embroiderers adjust their backing weight and needle selection for wool blend caps to produce clean results. The textured surface of the wool blend also means that very fine detail work in embroidery may not render as crisply as it would on a smooth structured panel — simpler, bolder logo designs work best on this blank.
Browse the Flexfit 110M → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 110C — the cotton blend flat brim
The Flexfit 110C brings cotton into the flat brim unstructured equation — a cotton-polyester blend construction that delivers a softer, more natural hand feel than the standard polyester 110 while maintaining the clean flat brim snapback silhouette.
Construction: Six-panel unstructured construction, cotton-polyester blend fabric, flat brim, snapback closure, one size fits most. The cotton content provides breathability and a softer surface texture than the synthetic 110, making it a comfortable everyday wear option as well as a decoration blank.
Best for: Lifestyle brands that want the flat brim aesthetic with a more natural, cotton-forward material story. Clients who specifically prefer cotton content in their headwear. Fashion brands building collections where the cotton blend texture aligns with the rest of their blank apparel choices — cotton-dominant tees and hoodies paired with a cotton blend cap creates a cohesive product line story.
Browse the Flexfit 110C → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 110F — the performance flat brim
The Flexfit 110F is the performance version of the 110 series — same unstructured flat brim snapback construction but with a moisture-wicking performance polyester fabric that manages perspiration during athletic activity.
Construction: Six-panel unstructured construction, performance polyester moisture-wicking fabric, flat brim, snapback closure, one size fits most. The performance fabric adds functional value to the flat brim aesthetic — a combination that works particularly well for athletic brands, fitness studios, and outdoor programs that want the modern cap silhouette alongside genuine performance characteristics.
Best for: Athletic brands that want the streetwear-adjacent flat brim aesthetic with performance fabric credibility. Fitness studios and gym programs. Outdoor recreation and adventure brands. Running and cycling clubs that want a casual off-bike or post-run cap option.
Browse the Flexfit 110F → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 5001 — the classic stretch fitted
The Flexfit 5001 is where the Flexfit brand story begins — the original stretch fitted cap that established the brand's position in the wholesale market. The 5001 is a structured six-panel cap with Flexfit's patented elastic band construction that produces a fitted silhouette without individual sizing, available in S/M and L/XL to accommodate the full range of adult head sizes.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel in wool-polyester blend, Flexfit elastic band stretch fitted closure, pre-curved brim, no visible closure hardware on the back. The absence of a snapback or velcro closure on the back of the cap is the visual signature of the Flexfit fitted style — it produces a clean, uninterrupted back panel that reads as premium and polished in a way that adjustable closure styles cannot match.
Colour range: The 5001 is available in a broad range of solid colours that cover both corporate and fashion applications, with particular strength in the neutral and classic colour categories that work for most professional and lifestyle programs.
Best for: Corporate programs where a fitted cap aesthetic reads more professionally than a trucker or snapback. Golf and country club programs. Premium lifestyle and fashion brands where the clean back panel of a fitted cap is part of the aesthetic intent. Athletic programs where the Flexfit stretch construction eliminates the sizing complexity of traditional fitted caps while maintaining the fitted silhouette.
Decoration notes: The structured wool-polyester blend front panel of the 5001 provides a good embroidery surface — more stable than an unstructured cap but with slightly different characteristics than Richardson's cotton twill and buckram construction. The wool content in the blend requires appropriate needle selection and backing for best results. The clean back panel makes back panel embroidery and printing particularly attractive on this style — there is no closure hardware to work around.
Sizing note: Unlike Richardson's snapback styles which accommodate a full range of head sizes in a single size, the 5001 requires a two-size approach — S/M and L/XL. For team and corporate programs, collecting basic head size information before ordering is necessary to ensure the correct split between S/M and L/XL quantities. This is significantly simpler than traditional fitted caps that require individual head circumference measurements, but it does require some pre-order data collection.
Browse the Flexfit 5001 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 6277 — the premium wool blend fitted
The Flexfit 6277 is the premium version of the 5001 — a six-panel structured fitted cap in a higher-quality wool blend construction that elevates the material story and perceived value of the finished decorated cap.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel, premium wool blend fabric, Flexfit elastic band stretch fitted closure, pre-curved brim. Available in S/M and L/XL. The premium wool blend delivers a richer, softer hand feel and a more textured surface than the standard 5001, and it is the style that most closely mirrors the aesthetic of the premium fitted caps available at retail from fashion brands and major sports leagues.
Best for: Executive gifting programs where the cap quality needs to reflect the premium positioning of the gift. Premium corporate programs where the wool blend material tells a quality story that polyester-dominant caps cannot. Fashion merch brands building a cap into a premium collection where everything needs to feel genuinely high quality. Sports programs at the elite or competitive level where the team cap is a meaningful part of program identity.
Browse the Flexfit 6277 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 6277Y — the youth fitted
The Flexfit 6277Y is the youth-sized version of the 6277 — same wool blend construction and Flexfit stretch fitted system, scaled for younger wearers. For sports programs that need a consistent fitted cap aesthetic across both adult and youth participants, the 6277Y allows the youth participants to be outfitted in a style that is visually consistent with the adult 6277.
Best for: Youth sports programs. Family-oriented recreational leagues. School and club sports programs where youth athletes need to look like part of the same team as adult coaches and staff.
Browse the Flexfit 6277Y → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 6297F — the recycled performance fitted
The Flexfit 6297F is Flexfit's performance and sustainability-positioned fitted cap — a structured six-panel fitted style made from recycled polyester fabric with moisture-wicking performance characteristics.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel, recycled polyester performance fabric, Flexfit elastic band stretch fitted closure, pre-curved brim. The recycled polyester construction adds a sustainability story to the performance characteristics — relevant for corporate programs with ESG commitments and brands whose customer base cares about environmental responsibility.
Best for: Corporate programs with sustainability commitments where the recycled material story adds value to the gift or uniform program. Athletic and outdoor brands whose customer base expects performance and environmental responsibility. Golf programs where performance fabric is appropriate and the recycled material story aligns with the course or club's environmental positioning.
Browse the Flexfit 6297F → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 6196 — the structured low-profile fitted
The Flexfit 6196 is a low-profile structured fitted cap — the Flexfit system in a reduced crown height that produces a cleaner, less prominent silhouette than the standard height 5001 and 6277 styles.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel in polyester-spandex blend, Flexfit elastic band stretch fitted closure, low crown height, pre-curved brim. The low crown produces a sleeker, more understated fitted cap silhouette that works particularly well for athletic and lifestyle applications where a lower-profile look is preferred.
Best for: Athletic programs where a lower-profile cap is more appropriate for the activity — running, cycling, and similar sports where cap height is a practical consideration as well as an aesthetic one. Fashion brands that want the Flexfit fitted construction in a less prominent silhouette. Corporate programs where a more understated cap is the right fit for the brand and recipient.
Flexfit 6197 — the structured mid-profile fitted
The Flexfit 6197 is the mid-profile counterpart to the 6196 — same Flexfit stretch fitted system in a slightly taller crown height that sits between the low-profile 6196 and the standard height 5001 and 6277 styles.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel, polyester-spandex blend, Flexfit elastic band stretch fitted closure, mid-profile crown, pre-curved brim. The mid-profile crown is the versatility sweet spot for many buyers — enough crown height to look substantial and intentional without the full height of the standard fitted styles that some wearers find too prominent.
Best for: Corporate programs where the mid-profile reads as professional and polished without being as formal as the full-height fitted styles. Athletic programs that want more crown height than the low-profile 6196 but a cleaner silhouette than traditional baseball cap heights. Fashion brands that want the Flexfit construction in a balanced, versatile silhouette.
Browse the Flexfit 6197 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 6210 — the cool and dry performance fitted
The Flexfit 6210 is Flexfit's dedicated performance fitted cap — structured six-panel construction with a moisture-wicking cool and dry fabric specifically engineered for athletic use during physical activity.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel in cool and dry performance polyester, Flexfit elastic band stretch fitted closure, pre-curved brim, available in S/M and L/XL. The cool and dry fabric is designed to manage perspiration efficiently during high-intensity athletic use — making this the appropriate Flexfit fitted style for sports programs where the cap will genuinely be worn during competition and training rather than just as casual team identity wear.
Best for: Competitive athletic programs where performance during activity is a genuine requirement. Golf tournament programs where the fitted aesthetic and performance fabric combine appropriately. Baseball and softball leagues that want a performance fabric option. Corporate athletic event merchandise where participants will actually wear the cap during the event activity.
Flexfit 6477 — the wool blend structured six-panel
The Flexfit 6477 is a premium wool blend structured six-panel cap with an adjustable closure rather than the Flexfit stretch fitted system — offering the material quality of the wool blend Flexfit range in a one-size-fits-most adjustable format that eliminates the two-size ordering complexity of the fitted styles.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel, wool blend fabric, adjustable closure, pre-curved brim. One size fits most. The wool blend delivers the premium material story of the higher-end Flexfit styles with the ordering simplicity of an adjustable cap — a practical combination for corporate and promotional programs that need quality without the sizing complexity.
Best for: Corporate gifting programs where premium material quality is important but individual sizing is impractical. Promotional programs that need to order one size for a diverse recipient group without collecting individual measurements. Premium lifestyle and fashion brands that want the wool texture in an accessible format.
Browse the Flexfit 6477 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit 6572 — the recycled trucker
The Flexfit 6572 is Flexfit's take on the trucker cap format — a five-panel structured front with mesh back construction, but made from recycled materials with Flexfit's characteristic quality standards.
Construction: Five-panel structured front panel in recycled fabric, mesh back, adjustable snapback closure, pre-curved brim. The trucker format makes the 6572 a direct competitor to Richardson's trucker styles in terms of silhouette, but with Flexfit's brand identity and a recycled material story that Richardson's standard trucker styles do not offer.
Best for: Corporate and brand programs where the trucker silhouette is appropriate and a sustainability story adds value. Outdoor and environmental brands where the recycled material aligns with brand values. Programs that want the Flexfit brand name on a trucker-format cap. Buyers who want Richardson's silhouette with a different brand identity or sustainability positioning.
Browse the Flexfit 6572 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit YP180 — the premium performance fitted
The Flexfit YP180 is the brand's premium performance positioned fitted cap — a structured six-panel style with advanced performance fabric construction designed for serious athletic use at a price point that reflects the material and construction investment.
Construction: Six-panel structured front panel, advanced performance polyester fabric with moisture management, UV protection, and stretch, Flexfit elastic band stretch fitted closure, pre-curved brim, available in S/M and L/XL. The YP180 represents the premium end of the Flexfit performance range — the style that competitive athletic programs and performance-focused brands reach for when the decoration blank needs to match the performance credentials of the brand it represents.
Best for: Elite athletic programs where cap performance during activity is non-negotiable. Premium golf programs and country clubs. Performance lifestyle brands whose customer base expects technical fabric in every product. Corporate programs in physically active industries where the cap will be genuinely used during outdoor or active work.
Browse the Flexfit YP180 → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Flexfit Delta X-Cap — the technical performance specialist
The Flexfit Delta X-Cap is the most technically advanced cap in the Flexfit range available through Fabrik — a premium performance fitted style built with Flexfit's most sophisticated fabric and construction technology including Stain-Block moisture-wicking, Flexfit bond thermal regulation, anti-bacteria and odor resistance, and a closed back stretch fitted construction.
Construction: Six-panel structured mid-profile design, 92% polyester / 8% PU Spandex fabric, three-layered sweatband with Stain-Block technology, Flexfit bond taping for thermal regulation, anti-bacteria and odor resistance, Permacurv visor, black undervisor, stretch fitted closed back, 1-row stitching on visor. The Delta X-Cap's construction specifications are significantly more advanced than standard performance caps and represent the premium technical end of the wholesale cap market.
Best for: Elite competitive sports programs where maximum performance during activity is the primary requirement. Premium athletic brand merchandise where technical fabric specification is part of the product story and the retail price reflects the quality investment. Corporate programs in demanding physical environments — outdoor construction, utilities, resource industries — where the cap needs to perform in genuine working conditions. Premium gifting programs where a highly technical, clearly premium product makes a statement about the quality of the gift.
Browse the Flexfit Delta X-Cap → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...]
Decoration considerations for Richardson and Flexfit caps
Understanding how Richardson and Flexfit caps behave differently during decoration is essential knowledge for producing consistently excellent results across both brands.
The fundamental decoration difference between the two brands:
The most important practical difference between decorating Richardson and Flexfit caps is the front panel construction. Richardson's cotton twill over buckram backing produces a firm, flat, stable surface that is among the most forgiving embroidery surfaces in the cap category. Flexfit's range includes both structured panels — in their fitted styles — and unstructured panels — in their 110 series — each of which requires different decoration protocols.
For Richardson's structured styles — the 112, 110, 312, and 115 — the buckram-backed cotton twill front is predictable and consistent. Experienced decorators who have worked with Richardson caps extensively will find their existing protocols transfer directly across the brand's structured styles with minimal adjustment.
For Flexfit's structured fitted styles — the 5001, 6277, 6196, 6197, 6210, 6477, YP180, and Delta X-Cap — the structured front panel provides adequate embroidery stability but with fabric compositions — wool blends, performance polyesters, spandex blends — that differ from Richardson's cotton twill and require appropriate needle selection, backing weight adjustment, and tension calibration.
For Flexfit's unstructured styles — the 110, 110M, 110C, 110F series — embroidery on the soft, unsupported front panel requires the most careful protocol management of any cap in either brand's range. Firm cutaway backing is essential, lower stitch counts produce more consistent results, and high-complexity artwork should be simplified for the cap application or converted to a patch.
Digitization for cap embroidery:
Cap embroidery digitization — converting a logo file into an embroidery stitch file optimized for the curved, three-dimensional surface of a cap front panel — is the single most important investment in the quality of your finished decorated cap. A logo digitized for flat garment embroidery will produce inconsistent results on a cap regardless of the cap brand or construction quality.
The key digitization adjustments for cap embroidery are more aggressive underlay construction to compensate for the movement of the cap in the hoop, push and pull compensation specific to the cap fabric's compression characteristics, and simplified detail in artwork that would exceed practical cap stitch count limits. For both Richardson and Flexfit cap programs, using a digitizer with specific cap embroidery experience and providing them with the exact style they will be embroidering produces meaningfully better results than adapting existing flat garment files.
Patch decoration:
Embroidered or woven patches applied to the cap front are an excellent decoration alternative for both Richardson and Flexfit styles — particularly for complex logos that exceed practical direct embroidery limits, or for applications where multiple colour changes or fine detail work would be challenging to execute consistently through direct cap embroidery. Patches are embroidered or woven flat and applied to the cap via heat seal or sewing, which means the decoration quality is not affected by the curved cap surface or the specific fabric characteristics of the cap blank. And at Fabrik we do sell custom patches, either embroidery patches here https://www.fabrikdtf.ca/produ... or leatherette patches here https://www.fabrikdtf.ca/produ...
Choosing between Richardson and Flexfit: the decision framework
Choose Richardson when:
Your client wants the classic trucker cap silhouette — the structured front with mesh back that is currently one of the most culturally relevant cap formats across fashion, lifestyle, and promotional applications simultaneously.
Colour matching to specific brand or team colours is critical — Richardson's 112 colour combination range is unmatched in breadth and the most likely to produce an exact or near-exact match to any given brand colour palette.
The application is broadly versatile — corporate, sport, merch, event — and you want a single reliable blank that works across all of them. The Richardson 112 in particular is the cap that answers the most briefs with the fewest compromises.
Your client is in the lifestyle, outdoor, heritage, or craft beverage space where Richardson's aesthetic heritage adds authentic credibility to the finished product.
Choose Flexfit when:
Your client wants a fitted cap silhouette without the logistical complexity of individually sized traditional fitted styles. The Flexfit stretch system makes fitted cap programs accessible for corporate, team, and brand programs that could not practically manage individual sizing.
The application is athletic or performance-oriented and a performance fabric is either required or strongly preferred. Flexfit's performance range — the 6210, 6297F, YP180, and Delta X-Cap — provides technical fabric options that Richardson's current available range does not match.
Your client is building a premium fashion or lifestyle product where the clean back panel of a fitted cap, the premium feel of a wool blend, or the technical specification of a performance fabric is part of the product story that justifies a premium retail price.
The flat brim streetwear aesthetic is the specific intent and the unstructured Flexfit 110 series is the right blank for that application.
When both brands are appropriate:
For many programs — particularly larger corporate programs, league-wide sports programs, and brand collections that span multiple products — using both Richardson and Flexfit strategically within the same program is the most sophisticated approach. A corporate program might use Richardson 112 trucker caps for general staff and event use, and Flexfit 6277 premium fitted caps for executive gifting within the same program. A sports league might use Richardson 112 trucker caps for fans and supporters while outfitting players and coaching staff in Flexfit 6210 performance fitted caps.
The decorators and distributors who understand both brands deeply enough to make these distinctions confidently are the ones who build the most loyal and high-value client relationships in the cap category.
Ordering Richardson and Flexfit through Fabrik
Both Richardson and Flexfit are available through Fabrik with Canadian pricing, live inventory, and domestic shipping across Canada. Whether you are placing a single sample order to evaluate a new style or a full production run for a team or corporate program, you will find consistent wholesale pricing in CAD with no cross-border complications.
Browse the full Richardson range → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...] Browse the full Flexfit range → [link] Browse all headwear → [https://fabrik.ca/en-ca/produc...] Contact our team with questions about style selection, colour availability, or decoration guidance → [email protected] or by phone at 1-877-281-0499